London Top 100

Top 15 Things
to do in London England

What to do
in London?

11 (31) Windsor Castle

A
must see for London visitors, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest
occupied castle in the world. In official residence is none other than
her majesty the Queen of England and Australia. The magnificent State
Apartments are lavishly furnished with treasures from the Royal Collection
including exquisite and priceless works of art.

Windsor Castle suffered
a major fire in 1992 which visibly upset the Queen. The now renovated
Windsor Castle draws in more subjects and non-subjects than ever. Why
? Well, 900 years of British history, a royal palace, a magnificent
chapel, fine works of art including paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens,
Holbein, Brueghel, Van Dyck, Canaletto, Gainsborough and more besides.
It only takes about 30 minutes to get to Windsor from Paddington train
station in central London. Windsor is also a lovely part of England.
With Eton College near by this is a wonderful way to see a little bit
of the English Countryside. So that's history, Royalty, a great castle,
fabulous works of art and the English Countryside to see. There are
many reasons why a visit to Windsor should be high on your list of things
to do whilst in London but there is one final reason why you should
plan to visit - entrance is free with a London
Pass

12 (-) London Theatre

London theatres can be divided
up into West End, Fringe and repertory like The National Theatre (NT)
and Shakespeare's Globe. A repertory theatre offers a selection of shows
that are rotated so you get to see several shows in one week at the
same venue.

The West End theatres are
often what comes to mind when one thinks about going to see a show.
The West End theatres are concentrated around Leicester Square, The
Strand and Shaftesbury Ave. In this context, The West End can also mean
theatres in such far flung places as Victoria. Both prices (up to eighty
quid) and seating capacities (up to 2,000) are usually a bit much. Be
warned that 'cheap'er seats can come with nice views of pillars, barriers,
curtains and bad haircuts. Check the seating plan before you buy.

The subsidised National Theatre
(NT) often show cases unknown writers and challenging plays that may
not appeal. You run the risk wasting your time or being rewarded with
a stella and memorable piece of work. Do your research before you go.

13 (25) London Eye

The London Eye is the great
big wheel opposite the Houses of Parliament. It is the largest ferris
wheel in the world. Good weather helps to make this worth queuing up
for. London isn’t Paris or New York. Thank the German air force
and a history of lousy town planning. The skyline with St Paul's, House
of Parliament and Big Ben and some of the more recent buildings like
City Hall and The Gherkin still give you much to look at. Then there
is the River Thames snaking its way into the distance and towards the
sea.

Don't fret too much if you
can't afford the time or the money to do this. There are other ways
to see London than in a bubble such as from the top of the Monument
or St Paul's Cathedral.

14 (9) London Walks

Houses
of Parliament from Westminster Bridge

Much of London's history
is 'doable' on foot. London still has narrow streets, lanes, cobbles,
and old gas lights. This is all best experienced on foot. Just be aware
of phrases like 'wind-chill' and 'bloody-cold' and dress accordingly.

Tours include Ghosts, Pubs,
Shakespeare and if you are lucky, all three. It is rumoured that there
might even be a Da Vinci code tour. London Walks cover everything from
Jack The Ripper with internationally recognised Ripper expert, Donald
Rumbelow, to the power and intrigue of Old Westminster to Shakespeare’s
Bankside. Jack the Ripper is a favourite walk for horror history fans.
Not for the young or faint hearted.

London Pass holders can
get a special rate of only £5 per walk (normal price £7)
and a free discount Walkabout Card (face value £7), which locks
in the discount on all London walking tours with the company for a month.

With an astonishing variety
of routes a London Walk is one of the best ways to discover the real
history of London. These guides are some of the best in the UK and make
their subject come alive for tour groups of all ages.

15 (61) Tate Britain (formerly
the Tate Gallery)

Tate Britain is the centre
for British art world wide. Its exhibits date from the 16th century
to the present day. From the Tudors to the Turner Prize. Highlights
include the work of William Hogarth, the eighteenth-century portraitists
Gainsborough, Reynolds and the animal painter George Stubbs. The work
of Blake, Constable and Turner, outstanding British artists from the
Romantic age, are also well represented.

You will find the Tate Britain,
or as it used to be known, the Tate Gallery on the north bank of the
River Thames at Millbank. Admission to Tate Britain is free. With a
London
Pass you will also receive a free audio-guide.